In an interview with Sporting News earlier this spring, Texas native Kameron Miles loved the idea of playing in the SEC. Although he held one of the coveted invitations to the Texas Longhorns’ junior days, he still talked about what it would be like to play farther east.

Now, it’s official—he’ll be playing in the SEC. Tennessee landed his commitment when the 6-foot-2, 200-pound defensive back out of West Mesquite High School in Mesquite (Texas) announced he’d play for the Volunteers.

Derek Dooley and the Tennessee Volunteers dip into the state of Texas to pick up defensive back Kameron Miles, ranked 77th on the Sporting News top 125. (AP Photo)

Arkansas, Ole Miss, Penn State, Stanford, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Virginia and West Virginia all offered Miles, as had in-state schools Rice, SMU, TCU and Texas Tech. The Longhorns had since moved on.

“I want to play in the SEC,” the Dallas-area native told the Chattanooga Times Free Press after making the decision. “That’s really where my heart was at. I had a good connection with the coaches, and that’s why I really felt comfortable. It’s just a wonderful feeling, and I’m really happy right now. I just really can't believe this is happening right now.”

Miles told Sporting News this spring that even with the junior day invite from Texas, he was actually just as excited about an unofficial visit he had to LSU.

“Me becoming a BCS starter would be because of my maturity and my IQ of the game on the next level,” Miles previously told Sporting News. “What makes me good at my position is my ball skills, play recognitions and that I’m very physical coming down hill, and with my coverage.”

The Volunteers have seven commitments—three from in-state. Defensive end Jason Carr and offensive lineman Austin Sanders are two other top recruits, and both are from the state of Tennessee.